British Airways celebrates 100 years with a very special retro paint job

The airline is celebrating its 100th birthday this year

Cathy Adams
Monday 21 January 2019 15:52 GMT
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British Airways is giving one of its aircraft a retro paint job in the design of a former British Overseas Airways Corporation (Boac) plane.

The UK flag carrier, which celebrates its centenary this year, will paint a Boeing 747 in the same livery that graced its jets in the 1970s when the national carrier was known as Boac.

The aircraft, currently being painted in Dublin, will arrive at London Heathrow on 18 February. It will take to the skies on 19 February.

British Airways has chosen the 747 for the retro livery as the plane, designed in the 1960s by Joe Sutter, is a later variant of the same aircraft type that carried the original Boac design.

The first ever Boeing 747 flight took place on 9 February, 1969 – almost 50 years ago.

British Airways hinted that there could be more retro designs to come as part of its 100th birthday celebrations this year.

“So many British Airways customers and colleagues have fond memories of our previous liveries, regularly sharing their photos from across the globe, so it’s incredibly exciting to be re-introducing this classic Boac design,” said Alex Cruz, British Airways’ chairman and CEO.

He added: “Our history has shaped who we are today, so our centenary is the perfect moment to revisit our heritage and the UK’s aviation landscape through this iconic livery.”

The airline will continue to fly the Boeing 747 with the Boac livery until the aircraft retires in 2023, by which time the majority of the airline’s 747 fleet will be out of service.

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